Hey everyone!! My name is Hayley Garr. I am 20 years old! I currently live in St. Charles, Missouri and attend Lindenwood University. I am a sophomore and I am studying Christian Ministry Studies and Psychology. I hope to someday be a Christian counselor. I have a passion for teenage girls who are struggling with life-altering issues (i.e. eating disorders, unplanned pregnancy, self-injury, etc.). God breaks my heart for struggling girls every single day. I just want to scream to each and every one of them that they are beautiful, loved, cherished, and wanted by their heavenly Father. I pray each and every day that you all believe that about yourselves too!! Moving on, I teach dance for 3-10 year olds at a local dance studio. I grew up dancing from the age of five and that really impacted who I have become. I hope to be a light for all my little girls and that they would find their identity in Christ. Currently, I’m praying about how I can get involved with a church youth group in town. I ask that you would join me in prayer that God would shine a pathway for me to go down.

Fun Facts::

- I love to read! Hunger games, anyone? SO GOOD. Typically my favorite genre is Christian living (not because I’m super spiritual, just because I really like to grow and learn from people that know more than I do.).

- I'm allergic to peanuts. I heard this may be an issue since we are supposed to eat that all summer? hmmm..

-I LOVE NAPS. Seriously. I take a nap every day. They are just so peaceful!

-I have the taste buds of a child. I really only like pizza, grilled cheese, nachos, chicken nuggets, and macaroni and cheese.

-I am a texting addict. I have an iPhone---that pretty much explains it all. haha.

-I have a Vera Bradley obsession. It’s just all so cute!!!

-I have a dog named Zach. He’s part cocker spaniel and part poodle. He may be the one that I miss the most while in Africa (just kidding) Haha.

- I have a lot of allergies. I was actually allergic to everything that I was tested for. I get allergy shots. It’s a great time

- I grew up in a family of four. A mom, a dad, and an older sister. She just got married last June. So, now there are five of us!! I LOVE my family. We had our rough patches growing up, but now we are closer than ever!

-I have a passion for teenagers, specifically teenage girls. 

-I worked as a Christian counselor at a camp in Michigan last summer for 10 weeks. God truly did a work in my heart during my time there.

-I am in a relationship with a Godly guy named Taylor. He treats me like a princess. Best of all, he points me to the Lord. Our relationship has been a beautiful portrayal of God’s love for us all. I’ll tell you all the story when we meet, in person! YES!

-I love music. I’ve always been obsessed with it! Christian, pop, country, musical theater, etc! It’s all so fun! I could never pick a favorite song or artist. It literally changes every day.

- I love taking pictures. I literally have over 10,000 pictures on Facebook. It’s an obsession. Lucky for you all, you’ll be in lots of them in Africa

-I have an obsession with the musical “Wicked!”

-I am crazy about quotes. I’ll stay up super late at night and just look up random quotes. I think “telling Hayley quotes” is probably my love language. Haha.

-My favorite book in the bible is Romans (specifically Romans 6 and 8).

-I love to dance! I danced from the age of 5-senior year in high school. My senior year, my high school dance team won Nationals in Florida!

- I really like sweatpants and ugg boots. It’s just so comfy!!

Okay…I think that’s enough information. If you want to know more---just ask!!!

I went on a mission trip to Jamaica when I was in the 10^th grade. I went with my church and met up with an organization called WonbyOne. It was an incredible experience and it is definitely what first opened my eyes to the nations and the Love that He has called me to share throughout the entire world. Other than that---this will be my first trip across the world…with people I’ve never met before!!  

I am really excited to go to Africa!!! I have always wanted to go to Africa to specifically work with orphans, and within the last couple years, I’ve been broken for people all over the world that suffer from the HIV/AIDS pandemic. So, this trip is a complete answer to prayer!! I am completely stoked to be taken out of my comfort zone. All my friends are saying that I’m going to come back completely changed, and I’m okay with that! Bucket showers---here we come!!...The only reservations or fears that I have include: missing people from back home because of lack of communication. Bugs/Spiders. Living with people that I’ve never met before….I’m sure there are many more “fears” and more will arise as the trip comes closer. But I trust God and His promise in Joshua 1:9! I’m letting His peace overwhelm me.

Lastly, I am just so excited for this trip. This is going to be a life-changing experience for all of us! I am so excited to grow in a close Christian community and encourage each other daily! Jesus is so amazing and I can’t wait to learn more about Him through all of you! I won’t claim to be a Christian that knows what she’s doing. I have a completely wretched past, and God has just redeemed my story and has healed my heart in ways I never thought possible. I am just a girl that was in desperate need of someone to come and save me from my pit. God reached down and saved my life. I just want to give everything I am to Him in thanksgiving. He is so worthy of my worship.

LOVE YOU ALL, already!! Can’t wait to meet you!! 96 days? I think! SWEET!